Best Time to Visit Kenya: Month by Month Safari Guide

Kenya lies on the Equator, so temperatures change more with altitude than with the time of year. Nairobi and the highlands are mild, while Samburu, Tsavo and the coast are hot. What matters most for a safari is the rain. Kenya has two rainy seasons: the long rains, usually around April and May, and the short rains, usually around November.

Kenya's seasons at a glance

Months	Season	What to expect
January – February	Dry	Good game viewing everywhere, fewer visitors than the migration months.
March	Getting wetter	Still good, with the first rains arriving late in the month in some years.
April – May	Long rains	Green, quiet and lower prices. Some tracks get muddy and some camps close.
June	Dry season begins	Grass dries out and wildlife viewing improves.
July – October	Dry, peak season	The Great Migration in the Masai Mara. Busiest and best for game viewing.
November	Short rains	Short afternoon showers. Good value, and safaris run normally.
December	Mostly dry	Busy around the holidays, with good game viewing.

Best time for each park

Park	Best months
Masai Mara	July – October for the migration; January – February for quieter dry-season viewing
Amboseli	June – October and January – February; Kilimanjaro is often clearest after rain
Lake Nakuru	Good all year, easiest in the dry months
Samburu	June – October and January – March, when animals gather at the river
Tsavo	June – October and January – February

Is the rainy season a bad time to go?

Not necessarily. In the long rains it often rains heavily for part of the day and then clears. The parks are green and quiet, lodges cost less, and many animals have their young. The downsides are muddy tracks, some closed camps and fewer flights to the smaller airstrips. In the short rains of November, showers are usually brief.

Combining Kenya with Uganda or Rwanda

The dry seasons in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda fall at similar times, so late June to September and December to February suit a combined trip with gorilla trekking. See Uganda and Kenya safaris, or our guide to the best time to visit Uganda and Rwanda.